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The alum you want to stop bleeding is a styptic pencil. It's still called "alum" but is chemically different. It also comes in other forms, styptic swabs and styptic matches being 2 that I know of. But you want the pencil it's far less expensive and lasts for years. My first one I still have and it's over 40 years old. It'll last another 160 years at least. But I keep swabs and matches available if guests need them.

The alum block is more to point out areas where you went overboard in shaving and as a bacteriocide (and whatever else it "cides"). I find it works best as a deodorant for the underarms. The block is a salt and will dry out the skin if left in place.

Yep, the pencil's the thing....or, what I've done on those very rare occasions when this sort of thing was called for, I simply dabbed a cotton ball or piece of tissue with alcohol and pressed on the nick for a few seconds and that seemed to do the trick. Thankfully, I haven't had to do that for many years now.Regards,Gordon

Other than alum, a good lipstick balm also helps with weepers ..... I use Dermatone, but know people who have had success with Chapstick and others.

FWIW, I use an alum block after every shave, and keep a tube of My Nik is Sealed for major lacerations. Haven't used a styptic pencil in a few years, but usually have one in my supplies somewhere in case neither of the afore-mentioned products work.

Bryan, I think I read a post a few years ago about benefits of alum blocks. Unfortunately, I seem to have forgotten what it was. Now I think maybe I should google that issue one of these days to refresh my memory. If I find out something, I'll try to remember to post about it. I'm sure there are good reasons, maybe one is that if I use it instead of my trusty antiperspirant, it might be a good substitute. But that doesn't really seem to go with rubbing it on my face after I shave. Hmmm. . .

Gary, one of the benefits of the alum block is that it tells you how well you have shaved. For me at least, It does a better job than my bare hands of highlighting any areas that I may have missed - information that is useful for tomorrow's shave. It can also indicate when it's time to change blades.

I think the original purpose in barbershops was to seal the skin and close any cuts or weepers, as well as to kill any bacteria that may have migrated from another customer on the same razor. While these factors won't affect many of us, the alum block for me is a nice feature of a luxury shave. I use the Shavex block ($10) which lasts more than a year.

Porter, I have one and rarely use it. It seems that I've used it primarily after those unusual shaves that seem to have been a bit harsh. It burns like fire if there happen to be certain areas that might have been abused by a poor blade or my technique.

I have had difficulty accepting that the alum block "lets me know" how "good" my shave was. If "good" is strictly restrictedto how much irritation I managed to generate, yes the sting of alum will signal it. So will an application of an alcohol-based aftershave, which many of us use as part of our daily shave routine anyway.To me, a "good shave" encompasses more than "irritation" (though that surely is important); closeness, post shave feel, and how long my skin feels smooth are other components defining the quality of a shave.Having said that, though, my alum block is used after every shave to seal any tiny nicks or scrapes inflicted. And it serves mewell as an astringent. I rub the moistened block over a well-rinsed face, let it sit while the razor and brush are rinsed, thenrinse it off. I can't remember when the alum block became part of my routine, or for what specific reason, but it seems likelyit will remain in my regimen.As for the use of the alum as a deodorant, I tried it and was rewarded with a horrendous underarm rash and irritation whichtook months to heal. Nasty and painful! Many will proclaim alum makes for an effective deodorant but I am not in that group!

They can't be compared since they have 2 very different uses despite both going by the name "alum". A styptic match is to stop bleeding in a tiny area, an alum block is a large area biocide (basically) and isn't designed to stop bleeding. I believe they are also chemically different. One being an aluminum salt, the block being a potassium salt. (Is there another option for the block? I think maybe. )